“New Progress of a Race” book on black history

The book was partially hidden under other items on the auction table, but from the title, I instantly knew who – not what – it was about:

“The New Progress of a Race.” It had to be a book about African Americans, I presumed, as I took it up in my hand to examine it. And indeed, it was. Published in 1920, the book’s pages were as fragile as the message it was trying to impart during those early years of the 20th century.

Inside pages of "The New Progress of a Race," naming editors, writers and more.

The book’s full title was as hefty as its contents: “The Progress of a Race or the Remarkable Advancement of the American Negro. From the Bondage of Slavery, Ignorance, and Poverty to the Freedom of Citizenship, Intelligence, Affluence, Honor and Trust.”

The editors were trying to acquaint the country with the accomplishments of its African American citizens despite the odds. I handled the book oh-so-carefully to make sure I didn’t damage it any more than it had been – with its half-split spine and worn edges, and the slight tears on its pages.

The cover of "The New Progress of a Race."

I knew that I wanted to have this history of African Americans for myself – even if I had to take the rest of the lot on the auction table: a nice old Smith Corona typewriter, Wedgwood Jasperware blue tray and black paperweight, an old farm-scene print in a broken frame, a tattered Philco radio, a Yashica camera, Bushnell binoculars and a small bird made in Japan.

When the items came up for bids, another auction-goer apparently wanted them, too, but likely everything except the book. We went tit-for-tat, and I had almost given up but decided at the last minute to try one more time. I stepped back in and accepted the latest bid. The other bidder bowed out.

The book was mine, and I’m glad I hung in there.

The caption identified the men as Isaiah T. Montgomery, who worked for Confederate President Jefferson Davis during the Civil War, and George W. Gale, a former Mississippi state senator. It said that they were delegates to the Republican National Convention in Chicago in June 1920. In researching, I found that Montgomery's father managed the plantation of Davis' brother Joseph and he was born there. Montgomery went on to found an independent black colony in Tennessee called Mound Bayou. I could find no former black senator named Gale.

Back at home with the book, I first saw that it contained a Who’s Who of African Americans – some names I knew, while others were introductions. As I gently turned the pages, I saw photos and prints of African Americans and their contributions.

This “revised and enlarged” issue was edited by J.L. Nichols and William Crogman, the first black president of Clark College in Atlanta (1903-1910) and an advocate of liberal arts rather than vocational education for African Americans as espoused by Booker T. Washington.

It was published by a white company called J.L. Nichols & Co. of Illinois, one of several that saw the money to be made by publishing and marketing books to African Americans. They had observed that blacks were actively buying books from black publishers, so they began producing black-themed biographies and reference books, according to the 2001 book “The Harvard Guide to African-American History.”

Robert S. Abbott, editor of the Chicago Defender newspaper.

“The New Progress of a Race” was first published in 1898 (or 1897 or 1899, depending on what you read), and edited by Crogman and Henry F. Kletzing. It was revised in 1901 with a new name “The Colored American”and new co-editor J.W. Gibson. The book went through three more editionswith its original name, with Nichols as the co-editor on each (1920, 1925 and 1929).

Like many other books around that time, it was sold through subscriptions, either through the mail or from agents – many of whom may have been women– paid by publishers to go door to door in towns to sell their books.

The Virginia Center for Digital History has an undated “Dear Friend” subscription letter from the Nichols company to a woman named May Elizabeth Yancey touting the Progress book. The letter was a hard-sell:

Annie M. Pope Malone, operator of a $50,000 factory in St. Louis, Mo. She manufactured a line of beauty products for women.

“Here, for the first time, is an authentic record of achievement having no equal in the history of mankind. There are over 475 large pages and more than 200 half tone engravings, showing who’s who and what’s what in the Negro Race.

WOULDN’T YOU LIKE TO EXAMINE THIS AMAZING BOOK?

Our special offer is to send your copy on ten days free trial. Just pay the postman $1.98 — the special bargain price — plus a few cents postage. Keep the book for ten days. Then if you are not thoroughly convinced that it is the most valuable book you ever owned, return it and your money will be instantly refunded.”

The company was also offering a library edition of the book for $2.90 and a deluxe edition for $3.75. Nichols was seeking agents who could make from $5 to $20 a day “RIGHT NOW” by taking orders for the book.

At right, African American soldiers of the 368th Infantry march in France (top) and a black soldier seemingly gets friendly at a German prison camp during World War I. At right, the South Carolina Regiment puts down bloodhounds sicced on them by the Confederates during an 1862 Civil War battle.

In the first Progress book, Booker T. Washingtonwrote the introduction. In my edition, it was written by Robert R. Moton, his successor as principal at Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University). Margaret Murray Washington (Mrs. Booker T. Washington), a co-founder of the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, wrote a chapter on club work among African American women in my copy.

The book is chock full of African American history by subject in text, photos and prints. It ends with plantation melodies, taken from a collection at Hampton Institute (now Hampton University), which, according to the book, was preserving the spirituals.

Follow Auction Finds

Book Me to Speak on “Historical Treasures in Your Home”

Our houses are filled with memorabilia and artifacts that are part of our family's history and legacy. But far too often we don't know what we have or assume it's worth very little or nothing.

What valuable items are in your home or a family member's home?

I can show you what to look for, how to research its market value online, how to get it appraised by a licensed appraiser, and whether to keep it, donate it or sell it.

Contact me for a presentation before your group or organization, and have everyone to bring along an item to be evaluated. This flyer shows some items that have sold at auction.

About Sherry Howard

I started going to auctions to fuel my love for African American art – but at a bargain. I love the old masters: Lois Mailou Jones, Jacob Lawrence, Hughie Lee-Smith. I wanted to find their works and discover other veteran artists whose works may have been hiding in an attic or basement, and forgotten.

I’m a journalist by profession: I was a newspaper reporter and editor. Now, I’m taking what I did as a journalist – peeling back the covers of people’s lives and writing about what I found – and applying it to auctions. And I’m loving it.

Visit me often to see what I come up with. I would also like to share stories and photos of what you find and your collections. Click my Contact page.

What is my stuff worth?

Here are some tips for things you can do on your own to help determine what your items are worth:

First, try the web. Search for items similar to yours.
Go to the library or browse at a bookstore. Look through price and collector's guides pertaining to your item.
Get a free or reduced-price appraisal. Find local auction houses in your town and check their websites to see if they offer these quick appraisals. You can find auction houses near you via auctionzip.com.Pay for a real appraisal. This could be your last step or your first step (if you have an item that you already know is valuable).

You can get more detailed information on each of these tips in my blog post on the subject.